Capsule-filling machine.



B. T. WINGHESTER. oAPsULE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1, 1908. 1,092,319, Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

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B. T. WINGHESTER. A CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED No.1, 190s.

Patented Apr. 7, 19M

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B. T. WINGHESTBR. CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED DE01. 1908.

1,092,319. Patented Apm, 19m

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BENJAMIN THOMAS WINCHESTER, 0F WINDSOR HILLS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SHARP AND DOI-IME, OF

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

CAPSULE-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed December 1, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914. serial No. 465,553.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN THOMAS VINCHESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Windsor Hills, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Capsule-Filling Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in capsule filling machines and has for one of its objects to provide improved means for receiving the telescoped empty capsules and then engaging the male and female parts thereof so that the same may be separated for the purpose of filling the male parts of the capsules and to then return the female parts into register with the filled male parts thereof.

Another ob]- ect of the invention is to provide an improved means in a machine of the character described whereby to guide the female parts onto the filled male parts of the capsules.

A further object is to provide a removable filling device for filling the male capsule parts while the female parts are rigidly retained but in a removed position.

The drawings illustrate the invention wherein- Figure 1, illustrates the machine in side elevation, the filling device being omitted. Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the lower portion of the machine and a sectional elevation through the male part clamping devices as would appear on the line A-B of Fig. 1, and C-D of Fig. 7. This view also shows a cross-section through the filling block. Fig. 4 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the filling block. Fig. 5 illustrates a vertical crosssectional detail through the filling boX,- the section being taken on the line E-F o f Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail through a modified form of filling boX. F ig` 7 shows a side elevation of the filling block. Fig. 8 shows the filling boX in side elevation, and Fig. 9 illustrates a vertical sectional detail through those coacting parts which engage the two capsule parts during the operation of separating the same.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 3, designates a horizontal plate having a series of perforations arranged in crosswise and longitudinal rows and said plate has a depending fiange around its outer edge so that a lower horizontal plate, 1, also with a series of perforations, and an interposed pinch plate, 2, may be positioned beneath said upper plate. The pinch plate,.2, also has a series of perforations which may be registered with the perforations in the plate, 1, beneath it and also with the perforations in the top plate, 3, above it as shown in Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawings.

A lever, 17, is fulcrumed at, 18, and has a cam slot, 19, which engages, 20, on the pinch plate, 2, so that by swinging said lever the'pincli plate and its perforations may be slightly moved in a lateral direction with respect to the plates, 1, and, 3, in order to clamp the male capsule parts, 11, that eX- tend through the pinch plate perforations.

The plates, 1, 2, and, 3, are all yieldingly supported by guide rods, 21, and, 22, which latter extend down into guide tubes, 23. These tubes, 28, are located in a casing which forms a base for the machine and spiral springs, 25, are provided in the lower ends of the tubes to form a yielding support for the lower ends of the guide rods, 21, and, 22.

One end of the plate, 3, is provided with a hinge member having a pint-le, 15, so that a horizontal stripping plate, 4, and a horizontal back plate, 8, may both be pivotally connected at one end to said pintle, 15, and be capable of swinging up and from over the top plate, 3.

The stripping plate, 4, which when swung down will lie fiat on top of the upper plate, 3, is provided with a series of perforations which are registrable with the lperforations in the plates, 1, 2, and, 3, beneath it. Each stripper plate perforation has an upper portion, 5, which is of a greater diameter than its lower portion, 6, so that a shoulder or ledge will be formed at the upper end of the smaller diameter cn which the open end of the female capsule part, 10, may seat as will presently be more fully explained. The smaller lower portion, 6, of each stripper plate perforation is provided with a bevel or chamfer, 7, which enables the open end of the male capsule part to be more readily guided up into the smaller portions, 6, of said stripper perforations.

The hinged back plate, 8, is movable in- .forat-ions that when the lower the female capsule part is seated on the ledge or shoulder in said perforations the pro jecting rounder upper and closed ends of the female capsule part will enter one of the recesses, 9, and by plates, 4, and, 9, may be swung back simultaneously on the hinge pintle, 15, and hold the female capsule parts in the stripper plate perforations for a purpose which will presently be described.

A bail, 16, is pivotally attached to the sides of the stripper plate, 4, and may be swung over the end of the back plate, 8, to secure the plates together.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the capsule retaining devices, which include plates, 1, 2, 3, for the male capsule part and plates, 4, and, 8, for the female capsule part, are all supported in an elevated position over the casing or support in which the guide rods, 21, and, 22, extend. It will also be noted by reference to Figs. 1, 3, and, 9, that directly beneath each of the registered perforations in plates, 1, 2, and, 3, there is provided a block, 12, having a cavity, 13, in its upper side and all of said blocks are rigidly supported on a plate, 14, which is stationary on the casing or support. The cavities in the blocks, 13, are preferably shaped and are of a size to receive the rounded closed ends of the male capsule parts, 11, during the filling period as will presently be explained.

By entering upon an explanation of the filling devices, it is deemed better to explain how the capsules are handled so as to put them in condition for filling and this will now be done.

The back plate, 8, is first swung back and away from the stripper plate, 4, thus leaving the stripper plate over but with its perforatlons in register with the perforations in plates, 3, 2, and, 1. The empty, but telescoped capsules are next inserted in the registering perforations in plates, 4, 3, 2, and, 1, the male parts, 11, of the capsules extending down into the perforations in plates, 1, 2, and, 3, and the lower edge of the female capsule part will seat on the ledge or shoulder in the stripper plate, 4, as shown inl Fig. 9, of the drawing. The next step in the operation is to either operate the pinch plate or to swing the back this means the two plate, 8, over the plate, 4. For the purpose of the present explanation however it will be presumed that the back plate, 8, will be swung forward over the closed ends of the female capsule parts, 10, which operation causes the rounded closed ends of said female parts to enter the cavities or recesses, 9, in the under side of the back plate, 8, and thereby hold said capsule parts down on the ledge or shoulder in 'the stripper plate perforatio-ns, as shown in Fig. 9. The lever, 17, will next be swung to one side so as to slightly shift the pinch plate, 2, between the plates, 1, and, 3, and this slight movement of the pinch plate will cause the latter to engage the male capsule parts, 11, and hold them against vertical movement. The back plate, 8, and stripper plate, 4, are next swung together on the pintle, 15, and raised from the upper plate, 3. This movement strips the female capsule parts, 10, from the male parts, 11, and leaves the upper open ends of the male parts above the plate, 3. rlhe pinch plate, 2, is next moved so as to release the empty male capsule parts which latter then dro down through the perforations in the p ates, 1, 2, and, 3, until the lower closed ends of said male capsule parts seat in 'the recesses, 13, of the blocks, 12. When thus seated (see Fig. 3) the upper open ends of the male capsule parts will have position below the top surface of upper plate, 3, and the male capsule parts remain in this position until the filling has been completed.

The precise construction of the filling devices is immaterial but in all forms of filling devices I prefer to make use of a filler having 'a series of tapered measuring' chambers or molds, 27, formed in a block, 34. These tapered measuring chambers or molds have their smaller ends uppermost and their larger ends pointing downwardly at the time of filling and they are so arranged in the block after they have been filled that the block may be seated on the upper plate, 3, and the lilled measuring chambers of the block will register with the upper open ends of the empty male capsule parts so that it only remains to discharge the contents of the chambers into the capsule parts below.

In some instances itis preferable to provide a box-like structure, 26, around the block, 34, and allow the wall of the box to extend abo-ve the block as shown in Figs. 5

and G of the drawing. By preference thisVV box has a longitudinal partition wall, 29, so that if desired one side of the box alone may receive the material to be measured. A blanking plate, 28, is also shown in connection with the filling box and said plate has a clip arm that may be hung over either side wall or the center partition to hold the plate, 28, in a position to cover a plurality of measuring chambers or molds and thereby shut off those covered chambers from use. The box, 26, in some cases is provided with a bottom slide or grate, 31, which operates in side grooves, 32, and, 33, as seen in Fig. 8, to close the lower larger ends of the measuring chambers or molds and the withdrawal of which will allow the contents of the chambers to be discharged into the capsule parts beneath. It is not necessary however that the measuring or mold block be inolosed in a box for as will be seen by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 7 t-he block, 34, has the tapering chambers, 35, and is temporarily attached to a filling block, 36, by means of clips, 37, and, 38, which engage suitable side legs or lugs, 39, and, 40, on the block. In the operation of this block the same would be submerged, so to speak, in a batch of the material that is to be filled into the capsules and the cham` bers, 35, would fill up with the material which would become packed therein because the filling end of each chamber is smaller than the opposite end thereof. The block, 36, would then be removed and the block, 34, inverted and seated on the top plate, 3,-the legs, 42, and, 43, serving to sustain the block and leave a slight space, 41, between plate, 3, and the under side of the block. A plate, 45, having a series of depending pegs, 44, and guide pins, 46, may then be placed over the upper side of the block, 34, and the pegs entering the smaller ends of the measuring chambers will force the material out through the larger ends into the male capsule parts below.

In other instances pins or plungers, 47, may be carried on a bar, 48, and a gage, 49, will serve to limit the downward movement of the pins into the measuring chambers so as to eject the measured material from the chambers.

A receptacle, 50, may be provided on the base for the reception of the various detachable parts of the filling devices.

From the foregoing explanation it is to be understood that whichever form of filling device is employed to discharge the material into the male capsule parts such material is discharged from the filling device through the perforations in plates, 3, 2, and, 1, and into the male capsules while the lower closed ends of the latter are seated in the recesses, 13, of blocks, 12.

After discharging the material from the filling device the latter is removed and the operation of again telescoping the capsule parts is completed as follows: By referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that when the male capsule parts are seated in recesses, 13, of blocks, 12, the up ends of said capsule parts, 11, have position below the top surface of top plate, 3, and when the stripping plate, 4, and back plate, 8, are swung over the plate,

3, the lower open ends of the female capsule parts, 10, will have an elevated position above the open ends of the male parts with which they are to telescope. When swung back however the female capsule parts will have position directly over the filled male parts and it only remains to move one set of the capsule parts in the straight line toward the other set of parts so as to effect a telescopic engagement. This straight line movement is effected by means of the guide rods, 21, and, 22, and the guide tubes, 23, for it is obvious that by simply pressing the plates, 8, 4, 3, 2, and, 1, downwardly carrying the female capsule parts in such downward movement, the said female parts will be guided directly onto the upper ends of the male capsule parts,-the chamfered edge, 7, in the stripper plate perforations directing the upper open ends of the male capsules into the lower open ends of the female parts and the downward movement is continued against the action of springs, 25, in the guide tubes until the two sets of capsule parts are telescoped the required length. After the capsules have been thus closed the plate, 9, will be swung away from the closed end of the female capsule parts and the stripper plate, 4, may then be turned back withdrawing the male portions of the capsules from the plates, 1, 2, and, 3, and when turned back said filled capsules will drop out of the stripper plate.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for handling capsule parts during` filling the combination with rigid means for sustaining the closed ends of the smaller capsule parts, of means above the said rigid means for temporarily engaging said smaller capsule parts to hold them elevated above the said rigid means; means for engaging the larger capsule parts said lat-ter means being pivoted to swing the engaged larger capsule parts away from the smaller capsule parts; means for releasing the smaller capsule parts to allow them to drop into the rigid support and means for permitting the swinging engaging means for the larger capsule parts to be moved vertically toward the rigid support and carry said larger capsule parts onto the smaller parts while the latter are sustained on the rigid support.

2. In a capsule machine for holding capsule parts while fillingthe combination with a rigid support for the lower closed ends of smaller capsule parts, of a perforated plate above the rigid support; a pinch plate at the side of said perforated plate; a stripping plate above said perforated plate and said stripping` plate also having a plurality of perforations to receive the larger ends of the capsules; means for pivot-ally connecting I rily engage said smaller capsule one edge of the stripping plate with the said perforated plate beneath it and means whereby the pinch plate, perforated plate and stripping plate may all be moved toward the rigid support.

3. In a machine for holding' capsule parts while iilling the same, the combination with a pinch plate to engage the smaller capsule parts, of a rigid support for the capsules beneath the pinch plate; a stripping plate to engage the larger capsule parts and remove the latter while the smaller parts are held by the pinch plate; means whereby the said smallerI capsule parts may be released from the pinch plate and deposited on the rigid support during` filling' and means for sustaining said pinch plate and stripping plate to enable them to be moved toward the rigid support and downwardly over the open end of the smaller capsule parts. e

il. In a machine for holding capsule parts while filling the saine, the combination with a perfo-rated plate to receive the smaller eapsule parts, of clamping means to tempora- Jarts while the latter are in the perforateld plate; a stripper plate pivoted to the said perforated plate and having perforations to receive the larger capsule parts; a back plate to engage the closed ends of the larger capsule parts to hold the latter in the stripping plate during capsule parts for filling;

the separation of the means for releasperforations of the ing the smaller capsule parts; a rigid support to receive the released smaller capsule parts and means for allowing the back plate; stripping plate and perforated plate to be moved toward the rigid support to carry the larger capsule parts into telescopic engagement with the Smaller parts while the latter are on the rigid support.

5. In a machine for holding capsule parts while iilling the same, the combination with a rigid support; of vertically movable posts extending above the rigid support; a perfor-ated plate'carried on said posts above the rigid support and movablevertically with respect to the support; means for clamping capsule parts while the latter are in the perforations of said vertically movable plate; a stripping plate pivotally connected to the vertically-movable perforated plate and movable vertically with the latter,- said stripping plate having perforations to receive other capsule parts back plate to engage the closed ends of the capsule-parts in the stripping plate to hold said latter capsule parts in said stripping plate perforations and said back plate also being movable vertically with the perforated and stripping plates.

BENJAMIN THOMAS vWYIIICHES'IEIL "Witnesses:

WILLIAM IV. VARNEY, RAYuoND IH. WHITING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, yby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C.

and a movable 

